'No courage to go out in the night'

I recently shifted base to Navi Mumbai from a smaller town and am still getting used to the life in a city. The recent spate of incidents has made me realise that it is in my own interest to keep my guard up when I am outside the house.

I try to finish all my work during the day and avoid staying out late at night. I’ve heard a lot about the night life of the city, unfortunately I have not had the courage to explore it myself. Although feminists and activists are opposed to this sort of a reaction to rising crimes against women, I no longer trust the government to ensure that I am safe in public spaces at night. Hence, I need to take care of myself.

I also avoid venturing out into unknown areas by myself and plan on keeping a pair of scissors or a small knife in my purse to be equipped to defend myself if the need be.